The Middle AgesThe Middle Ages

476 – 1500476 – 1500

Version 3Version 3

Before the Middle Ages…Before the Middle Ages… THE ROMAN THE ROMAN

EMPIREEMPIRE 27 BCE – 476 CE27 BCE – 476 CE Largest Empire of Largest Empire of

history to that history to that datedate

REMEMBERREMEMBER

Rome was not Rome was not built in a daybuilt in a day

AND it did not fall AND it did not fall in a day.in a day.

Rome’s peak was Rome’s peak was about 200 CE.about 200 CE.

It took 276 years It took 276 years to collapse.to collapse.

Benefits of the Roman Benefits of the Roman EmpireEmpire

More people had More people had education.education.

Better roads and Better roads and bridgesbridges

Sanitation in the Sanitation in the cities and clean cities and clean water.water.

CULTURECULTURE LAWSLAWS

So What Happened to So What Happened to Rome?Rome?

Despotic – and Despotic – and crazy – emperors.crazy – emperors. Caligula was only Caligula was only

one example.one example.

So What Happened to So What Happened to Rome?Rome?

Not enough Not enough soldiers.soldiers.

The Germanic The Germanic Tribes figured out Tribes figured out how to fight the how to fight the Romans – and Romans – and WIN.WIN.

So What Happened to So What Happened to Rome?Rome?

Not enough tax Not enough tax money to support money to support the military or the military or public structures.public structures.

The Church The Church (Catholic) was (Catholic) was unsure about unsure about fighting and giving fighting and giving up tax money in up tax money in the 300s – 476.the 300s – 476.

So what happened to So what happened to Rome?Rome?

Not enough Not enough slaves to support slaves to support the Roman way of the Roman way of life.life. Problem began in Problem began in

the 300s.the 300s.

So what happened to So what happened to Rome?Rome?

The lead water The lead water pipes???pipes??? Creates infertility?Creates infertility? Creates slower Creates slower

brain abilities?brain abilities?

So what happened to So what happened to Rome?Rome?

476 – A tribe 476 – A tribe called the Vandals called the Vandals invaded and invaded and sacked Rome.sacked Rome. End of the Empire.End of the Empire. THAT is where we THAT is where we

get the term get the term “vandalism”!“vandalism”!

What happened What happened after Rome fell?after Rome fell?

The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages

About 400 years About 400 years of chaos.of chaos.

Germanic tribes Germanic tribes only seeking loot only seeking loot taking from the taking from the weak.weak.

The Norsemen The Norsemen (Vikings) raiding (Vikings) raiding from the sea.from the sea.

The Dark Ages: 400 - 800The Dark Ages: 400 - 800

Not much is Not much is known from this known from this period.period.

Few people could Few people could write.write.

Few people had Few people had time to write. time to write.

No real art comes No real art comes from this time in from this time in Europe. Europe.

The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages

There were “spots” There were “spots” where civilization where civilization hung on.hung on. Christian Christian

monasteries in monasteries in remote locations.remote locations.

Tended to be Tended to be looked at by people looked at by people as another type of as another type of magic.magic.

AND ….AND ….

The Age of Arthur?The Age of Arthur?

Was there a King Was there a King Arthur? Arthur?

Somewhere between 500 Somewhere between 500 – 600 - ARTHUR– 600 - ARTHUR

The MabniogionThe Mabniogion Arthur wasn’t really Arthur wasn’t really

a “king” like we a “king” like we think of it.think of it.

He was probably a He was probably a Roman – Celt Roman – Celt cavalry cavalry commander left commander left after Rome after Rome deserted Britain.deserted Britain.

Arthurian Legend in BritainArthurian Legend in Britain What we can guess at What we can guess at

being true about being true about Arthur:Arthur: He kept the He kept the

invading Angle and invading Angle and Saxon tribes from Saxon tribes from taking complete taking complete control.control.

He had a huge He had a huge victory that kept the victory that kept the Angles/Saxons away Angles/Saxons away for a generation..for a generation..

He had the time to He had the time to try to care about try to care about justice.justice.

Later in the Middle Ages the Later in the Middle Ages the Arthur story was made Arthur story was made “appropriate”“appropriate”

Le Morte D’Arthur in Le Morte D’Arthur in 1485.1485.

Arthur was made a Arthur was made a king.king.

Christianized story. Christianized story. Women were Women were

subservient / subservient / unfaithful.unfaithful.

Round Table and Round Table and Knights searching for Knights searching for the Holy Grail.the Holy Grail.

There were probably other There were probably other “Arthur’s” in the Dark “Arthur’s” in the Dark Ages ..Ages ..

Stories and Stories and legends.legends.

The “Arthur’s” The “Arthur’s” tended to lose in tended to lose in the end.the end.

And History is And History is written by the written by the victors.victors.

Now – for some Now – for some of the “real” of the “real” historyhistory

Things we know for Things we know for sure!sure!

By the 500sBy the 500s

Germanic Germanic invasions had all invasions had all but destroyed the but destroyed the Roman world.Roman world. Law and order Law and order

disappeared.disappeared. Infrastructures like Infrastructures like

roads, bridges, roads, bridges, buildings fell buildings fell apart.apart.

Frankish RulersFrankish Rulers

Franks – (France) Franks – (France) – – Merovingian kingsMerovingian kings Charlemagne and Charlemagne and

the Frankish the Frankish EmpireEmpire

The MerovingiansThe Merovingians

400s the Franks 400s the Franks Germanic Tribe Germanic Tribe conquered and conquered and settled in France / settled in France / Germany.Germany.

481 Clovis 481 Clovis became king of became king of the Franks.the Franks.

King ClovisKing Clovis

Brutal kingBrutal king BUT became a BUT became a

Christian.Christian. Saw that Saw that

Christianity had Christianity had some educated some educated people that he people that he needed to help needed to help rule his domain.rule his domain.

Problems for the Problems for the MerovingiansMerovingians

Frankish custom to Frankish custom to divide your land divide your land among all your among all your sons.sons.

Heirs began to kill Heirs began to kill each other for their each other for their inheritances.inheritances.

So busy fighting the So busy fighting the governing was left governing was left to the MAYORS OF to the MAYORS OF THE PALACE.THE PALACE.

Charles Martel – Mayor of Charles Martel – Mayor of the Palacethe Palace

714 Charles 714 Charles Martel (Charles Martel (Charles the Hammer) the Hammer) more or less took more or less took over in all but over in all but name.name.

Led the Franks to Led the Franks to defeat the Muslim defeat the Muslim invasion in 732.invasion in 732.

Charles the Hammer’s Charles the Hammer’s son: Pepin the Shortson: Pepin the Short

752 – Pepin 752 – Pepin finished off the finished off the Merovingians and Merovingians and bought off the bought off the Church and nobles.Church and nobles.

Became King of the Became King of the Franks.Franks.

Convinced the Convinced the Pope that he could Pope that he could be his “protection.”be his “protection.”

Pepin’s Son: Pepin’s Son: CHARLEMAGNECHARLEMAGNE

771 Charlemagne 771 Charlemagne became king.became king.

Doubled the size Doubled the size of his kingdom to of his kingdom to include Germany, include Germany, France, northern France, northern Spain and most of Spain and most of Italy.Italy.

Created the Created the Frankish EmpireFrankish Empire

Charlemagne needed help Charlemagne needed help with his empirewith his empire

Needed Needed communicationscommunications

Needed educated Needed educated men to helpmen to help

Charlemagne Charlemagne needed …..needed …..

THE CHURCHTHE CHURCH The Church started to The Church started to

create schools and create schools and monasteries to teach monasteries to teach reading and writing.reading and writing.

Made illuminated Made illuminated copies of the Bible and copies of the Bible and Roman manuscripts.Roman manuscripts.

Spread the knowledge Spread the knowledge around the empire.around the empire. First time in 300 years.First time in 300 years.

A Christian Realm under A Christian Realm under CharlemagneCharlemagne

Defending the Defending the Pope against the Pope against the Lombards (another Lombards (another Germanic tribe) in Germanic tribe) in 800 – 800 – Charlemagne had Charlemagne had an interesting an interesting “problem” come “problem” come up. up.

Charlemagne an Charlemagne an EMPEROR?EMPEROR?

Pope Leo III Pope Leo III thought it was a thought it was a great idea if HE great idea if HE crowned crowned Charlemagne Charlemagne emperor.emperor.

Charlemagne liked Charlemagne liked the idea of the the idea of the power of being an power of being an emperor too - BUTemperor too - BUT

Charlemagne as Emperor?Charlemagne as Emperor?

BUT what does it BUT what does it mean if the Pope mean if the Pope crowned him?crowned him? The pope had The pope had

more power than more power than the emperor.the emperor.

Charlemagne did Charlemagne did not like that idea. not like that idea.

Emperor CharlemagneEmperor Charlemagne

Pope tricked Pope tricked Charlemagne into Charlemagne into being emperor.being emperor.

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

Divided land Divided land among COUNTS.among COUNTS. Solve local Solve local

problemsproblems Stop feudsStop feuds Protect the weakProtect the weak Raise taxes and Raise taxes and

armies.armies.

Charlemagne’s EmpireCharlemagne’s Empire

Sent royal Sent royal messengers on messengers on inspections to tell inspections to tell him how counts him how counts were doing.were doing.

Charlemagne was Charlemagne was constantly constantly traveling to see for traveling to see for himself his himself his kingdom.kingdom.

814 Charlemagne died.814 Charlemagne died.

Son Louis the Son Louis the Pious was more Pious was more concerned about concerned about the purity of his the purity of his soul than ruling.soul than ruling.

Charlemagne’s Charlemagne’s grandsons went grandsons went to war for his to war for his kingdom.kingdom.

The end of the FranksThe end of the Franks

Charles the Bald Charles the Bald took over what is took over what is today France.today France.

Louis got what is Louis got what is today Germany.today Germany.

Lothair took a Lothair took a strip between the strip between the North Sea to Italy. North Sea to Italy.

800 – 1000: New Invaders800 – 1000: New Invaders

VIKINGS!VIKINGS!

The VIKINGSThe VIKINGS

Came from Came from Scandinavia Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Denmark, Holland)Holland)

Called themselves Called themselves Northmen or Northmen or NORSEMEN.NORSEMEN.

Viking InvasionsViking Invasions

TRIVIA: Viking TRIVIA: Viking comes from comes from A-A-VIKINGVIKING (fight as a (fight as a warrior).warrior).

Had GREAT boatsHad GREAT boats Sturdy in oceansSturdy in oceans Shallow enough to Shallow enough to

go up rivers.go up rivers. Could be carried Could be carried

past fortified past fortified bridges.bridges.

Viking InvasionsViking Invasions

Brutal. No mercy Brutal. No mercy in battle.in battle.

What couldn’t be What couldn’t be stolen they’d stolen they’d burn.burn.

Viking TradeViking Trade

They also They also explored and explored and settled in other settled in other countries. countries. Dublin (capitol of Dublin (capitol of

Ireland) was a Ireland) was a Viking settlement.Viking settlement.

Viking TradeViking Trade

Since no one else Since no one else but Vikings were but Vikings were using the using the waterways – trade waterways – trade happened through happened through them. them.

Sometimes trade Sometimes trade was more was more profitable than profitable than war.war.

Viking CultureViking Culture

Worshipped many Worshipped many gods.gods.

Told EPICS about Told EPICS about gods and men.gods and men.

Storytellers had Storytellers had special status.special status.

So did the So did the CRONES.CRONES.

Vikings accepted Vikings accepted ChristianityChristianity

BUT not until the BUT not until the 1100s. 1100s.

The Effects of the The Effects of the Germanic / Viking Germanic / Viking InvasionsInvasions

People became People became very isolated.very isolated.

Not much Not much centralized centralized control.control. Nobles and local Nobles and local

people had to people had to defend defend themselves.themselves.

Trade declined.Trade declined.

Medieval LifeMedieval Life

FeudalismFeudalism Life of the NobilityLife of the Nobility Manorial System Manorial System

(castles)(castles)

Feudalism: 900s - 1500Feudalism: 900s - 1500

With weak central With weak central government – government – feudalism feudalism developed.developed.

Alliances of mutual Alliances of mutual protection protection between monarchs between monarchs and nobles of and nobles of varying degrees of varying degrees of power.power.

Feudal RelationshipFeudal Relationship

Military service = Military service = land ownership.land ownership. Fiefs – land with Fiefs – land with

peasants.peasants. Warriors got a way Warriors got a way

to make money in to make money in exchange for being exchange for being a warrior for a king a warrior for a king or greater noble.or greater noble.

This is where the This is where the knight began.knight began.

KnightsKnights

USUALLY cavalry USUALLY cavalry fighters .fighters .

Cost a lot for Cost a lot for upkeep of horse upkeep of horse and armor. and armor.

In exchange for land In exchange for land nobles swore oaths of nobles swore oaths of loyaltyloyalty

To kings or To kings or greater nobles.greater nobles.

Promised to Promised to provide so many provide so many mounted warriors mounted warriors for the armies.for the armies.

Nobles, if they did Nobles, if they did their duty, could their duty, could pass on their land pass on their land to their heirs. to their heirs.

Feudalism: A Pyramid Feudalism: A Pyramid SchemeScheme

King at the top.King at the top. Middle was the various Middle was the various

ranks of lords.ranks of lords. Vassals were nobles Vassals were nobles

who served a higher who served a higher ranked lord.ranked lord.

Nobles could pledge Nobles could pledge services to more than services to more than one lord!one lord! One Siboto of Falkenstein One Siboto of Falkenstein

was pledged to 20 was pledged to 20 different lords!different lords!

Worked as long as one of Worked as long as one of his lords didn’t declare his lords didn’t declare wary on the other!wary on the other!

Feudal ObligationsFeudal Obligations

Homage: The Homage: The ceremony of ceremony of making promises.making promises. Knight promises Knight promises

service to the service to the king.king.

The king promises The king promises fiefs to the knight.fiefs to the knight.

Usual Feudal ObligationsUsual Feudal Obligations Promised to bring a Promised to bring a

certain number of certain number of knights to fight for the knights to fight for the king.king.

40 – 60 days a year of 40 – 60 days a year of service to the king.service to the king.

Serve in the lord’s courtServe in the lord’s court Provide food and Provide food and

lodging if the lord came lodging if the lord came to visit.to visit.

To pay for educating / To pay for educating / dowry of the lord’s kids.dowry of the lord’s kids.

Pay ransom for the lord.Pay ransom for the lord.

Castles for DefenseCastles for Defense

No big surprise – No big surprise – warfare happened warfare happened quite a bit.quite a bit.

Every noble built Every noble built a castle – fortified a castle – fortified manor house – for manor house – for defense. defense.

Castles for DefenseCastles for Defense

In the beginning – In the beginning – mostly wooden mostly wooden fort-like fort-like structures with a structures with a great hall that great hall that everyone lived in. everyone lived in.

Castles for DefenseCastles for Defense

Around 1100s Around 1100s castles began to castles began to be made of stone.be made of stone.

Built on a hill or Built on a hill or mound for mound for defense.defense.

Maybe a moat?Maybe a moat?

Inside the Castle WallsInside the Castle Walls

Square towers Square towers called KEEPS.called KEEPS. Strongest part of Strongest part of

the castle.the castle. Usually had the Usually had the

great hall for meals great hall for meals / celebrations./ celebrations.

Some housing for Some housing for the family of the the family of the noble.noble.

Dungeon?Dungeon?

Inside the Castle WallsInside the Castle Walls

Surrounding the Surrounding the keep was the keep was the BAILEY.BAILEY. Large open area.Large open area. Had buildings like Had buildings like

barracks, barracks, storerooms, storerooms, workshops, workshops, stables, chapel.stables, chapel.

Life in the castlesLife in the castles

Not so glamorous Not so glamorous as the movies as the movies make out!make out!

Castles were for Castles were for security – NOT security – NOT comfort.comfort. Nor sanitation!Nor sanitation!

Life of the NobilityLife of the Nobility

Within his fief, a Within his fief, a lord, or nobleman, lord, or nobleman, had almost total had almost total authority.authority. Collected rentsCollected rents Administered Administered

justicejustice Keep away Keep away

invaders who might invaders who might try to take his fief.try to take his fief.

Life of a noblewomanLife of a noblewoman

Few – if any – rights.Few – if any – rights. Could be wed by her Could be wed by her

twelfth birthday twelfth birthday (sometimes younger)(sometimes younger)

Husband chosen by Husband chosen by father / brother.father / brother.

Have children and Have children and take care of the take care of the household.household. Often the doctor.Often the doctor.

Life of a noblewomanLife of a noblewoman

SOMETIMES, their SOMETIMES, their husbands / husbands / fathers / brothers fathers / brothers trusted them to trusted them to do themen’s do themen’s duties when they duties when they were at war or the were at war or the king’s court.king’s court.

Entertainment for NoblesEntertainment for Nobles

Tournaments!Tournaments! Hunting!Hunting!

Women and men Women and men did falconry and did falconry and archery.archery.

Eating!Eating! Entertainment by Entertainment by

traveling traveling minstrels.minstrels.

Becoming a KnightBecoming a Knight

Boy’s training Boy’s training began at 7.began at 7.

Became a page / Became a page / assistant / in the assistant / in the house of another house of another lord.lord.

Began to learn the Began to learn the use of weapons use of weapons and some manners.and some manners.

Becoming a KnightBecoming a Knight

At 15, if good At 15, if good enough, they enough, they became a SQUIRE.became a SQUIRE.

Assisted the Assisted the knight, practiced knight, practiced using weapons.using weapons.

Had to prove Had to prove himself in battle himself in battle before he could before he could become a knight.become a knight.

The Code of ChivalryThe Code of Chivalry

Code for knights Code for knights to be brave and…to be brave and… Fight fairFight fair Keep promisesKeep promises Defend the ChurchDefend the Church Treat women of Treat women of

noble birth noble birth courteously.courteously.

RARELY kept to the RARELY kept to the code!!!!code!!!!

The Manorial SystemThe Manorial System

Usually the manor Usually the manor only produced only produced enough food to enough food to support the support the peasants and peasants and lord’s household lord’s household on the fief. on the fief. Hunger could be a Hunger could be a

real problem with real problem with a bad crop year.a bad crop year.

Peasant LifePeasant Life

Poverty and Poverty and hardship.hardship.

Rarely lived Rarely lived beyond the age of beyond the age of 40. 40.

Famine, diseases, Famine, diseases, war – peasants war – peasants hardest hit.hardest hit.

Peasant LifePeasant Life

Lived in one room Lived in one room hovels, dirt floor, hovels, dirt floor, no chimney, no chimney, maybe one or two maybe one or two stools and a table.stools and a table.

Warmth came from Warmth came from sleeping together.sleeping together.

Grain diet – very Grain diet – very little meat.little meat.

Strange thing:Strange thing:

People rarely People rarely questioned the questioned the social order of social order of their society. their society.

They accepted They accepted that nobles were that nobles were “better” than serfs “better” than serfs / peasants and had / peasants and had more rights.more rights.

But:But:

Acceptance of the Acceptance of the social ladder also social ladder also meant you knew meant you knew your place and your place and might have a bit might have a bit more protection more protection than if you were than if you were out on your own.out on your own.